Tiltable umbrella



July 17, 1962 R. A. RUSSELL. 3,044,478

TILTABLE UMBRELLA Filed April 25 1961 INVENTOK BY H15 /4TraRNEl/$j 74-flaw/s, [f/Ec H, Pussa 1. KER/v Unite grates Patent 3,044,478 TILTABLEUMBRELLA Ray A. Russell, Santa Ana, Calif., assiguor to CaliforniaUmbrella Company, Santa Ana, Calif., a partnership Filed Apr. 25, 1961,Ser. No. 105,374 4 Claims. (Cl. 135-20) The present invention relates ingeneral to umbrellas, especially large umbrellas of the so-called beach,garden or patio variety, and relates more particularly to a tiltableumbrella of this type having improved means for varying the angle of thecanopy thereof as desired to suit existing conditions of sun angle, winddirection, or the like.

The usual tiltable umbrella includes as articulate staff having an upperstaff member which carries the canopy and a lower stafi member which maybe anchored by inserting it into a socket in a patio table, into theground in a garden, into the sandat the beach, or the like. The adjacentends of the upper and lower staff members are pivotally interconnectedso that the angle of the canopy on the upper staff member may be variedas hereinbefore outlined. Assuming that the lower staff member isvertical, the canopy is in a horizontal position when the upper staffmember is aligned with the lower staff member. When the lower staffmember is pivoted relative to the lower into an angularly misaignedposition, the cmopy on the upper staff member is correspondingly tilted.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a pivotalinterconnection or pivoted joint between the upper and lower staffmembers which incorporates directly therein very simple and positivemeans for controlling and varying the angle of tilt of the upper staffmember.

An important object of the invention is to provide a pivotalinterconnection between two staff members which incorporates directlytherein gear means for controlling and varying the angle between thestaff members.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tiltable umbrella staff,or similar structure, which includes two staff members; means pivotallyinterconnecting adjacent ends of the staff members for relative pivotalmovement between aligned and misaligned positions about a pivot axis; adriven gear segment carried by one of the staff members and having itsaxis on the pivot axis; and a driving gear carried by the other of thestaff members and meshed with the driven gear segment.

Another object of importance is to provide a structure of the foregoingnature wherein the driven gear segment is a worm wheel segment andwherein the driving gear is a worm. With this construction, the wormgearing automatically maintains the desired angular relation between theupper staff member and the lower staff member, no auxiliary lockintgmeans being required, which is an important feature.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a pivotalinterconnection between two umbrella staff members wherein the worm iscompletely housed within the staff member by which it is carried, andwherein the worm wheel segment lies completely within the lateralconfines of the staff when the two staff members are aligned. With thisconstruction, a collar forming part of a collapsible canopy frame mayslide over the pivotal interconnection between the staff members incollapsing the canopy, which is an important feature.

A further object is to provide a crank connected to the driving worm andpivotable relative thereto between extended and retracted positions, andto provide a recess in the staff member carrying the driving Worm whichreceives the entire crank therein when the crank is in its 2 canopy.Thus, the pivoted joint, and the tilting means incorporated therein,offer no obstruction to the sliding collar of the collapsible canopyframe when the two staff members are angula-rly aligned and when thecrank is retracted, which is an important feature of the invention.

Another object of the invention is to provide detent means actingbetween the driving worm and the crank for releasably retaining thecrank in either of its extended and retracted positions.

Still another object is to provide a relationship between the crank andthe recess which permits ready extension of the crank when desired.

The foregoing objects, advantages, features and results of the presentinvention, together with various other objects, advantages, features andresults thereof which will be evident to those skilled in the art towhich the invention relates in the light of this disclosure, may beachieved with the exemplary embodiment of the invention described indetail hereinafter and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tiltable umbrella which embodies theinvention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary side elevational view taken asindicated by the arrowed line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view, partially in longitudinal section and partially inside elevation, taken as indicated by the arrowed line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, but showing parts in differentoperating positions; and

FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken asindicated by the arrowed line 5-5 of FIG. 4 of the drawing.

In the drawing, the numeral 10* designates an articulate umbrella staffwhich includes tubular upper and lower staff members 12 and 14. Thelower staff member 14 may be supported in a vertical position in anysuitable manner, as by inserting it into a central socket in patio table1 6.

The umbrella includes a canopy 18 mounted on a collapsible canopy frame26 of conventional construction, such a canopy frame being shown, forexample, in my Patent No. 2,914,154, granted November 24, 1959. Asdisclosed in that patent, the collapsible canopy frame 29 includes aslidable collar 22 on the staff 10. As will be apparent, when the canopy18 is collapsed, the collar 22 sli'des downwardly along the staff 10.The canopy frame 20 may be held in its extended position in any suitablemanner, such as, for example, that shown in the'patent mentioned.Alternatively, the canopy frame 20 may be latched in its extendedposition by a latch, not shown, on the staff 10 on which the collar 22is seatable.

As is conventional in umbrellas of this type, and as shown in FIG. 1 ofthe drawing, the upper staff member 12 may be tilted relative to thelower staff member 14 to vary the angle of the canopy 18 as desired tosuit conditions of use. To accomplish this, the two staff members 12 and14 are pivotally interconnected by a pivoted or tilting joint 24 inwhich the present invention is incorporated and which will now beconsidered.

The upper and lower staff members 12 and 14 respectively include upperand lower tubes 26 and 28, the adjacent ends of which are respectivelytelescoped over and suitably secured to cylindrical extensions 30 and 32of fittings 34 and 36, respectively. The lower fitting 36 is providedwith a bifurcated upper end having laterally spaced arms 38 whichreceive therebetween a depending arm 40 of the upper fitting 34. A pivotpin 42 extends through the arms 38 and 40 to pivotally interconnect theupper and lowerfittings 34 and 36, and thus the adjacent ends of theupper and lower staff members 12 and 14.

As will be apparent, the upper stafi member 12 may be pivoted, about thepivot axis provided by the pin 42, from a position wherein the staifmembers are aligned to positions wherein they are angularly misaligned.In other words, the angle of tilt of the upper staff member 12 relativeto the lower staff member 14 may be varied from zero to varycorrespondingly the angle of tilt of the canopy 18 from the horizontal.

The depending arm 49 of the upper fitting 34 provides 7 at itslower enda driven gear segment, preferably a worm wheel segment 44, the axis ofwhich coincides with the axis of the pivot pin 42. As will readily beapparent from FIGS. 3 and 4, the worm Wheel segment 44 swings, about theaxis of the pivot pin 42, into and out of the space between the arms 38of the lower fitting 36 as the inclination of the upper staff member 12is decreased and increased, respectively. When the upper staff member 12is aligned with the lower staff member 14, the worm wheel segment 44 isentirely housed within the space between the arms 38 of the lowerfitting 36.

The lower fitting 36 carries a driving gear, preferably a worm 46, whichis rotatable in bearings 43 and 50 shown as formed integrally with thelower fitting 36. The worm 46 is meshed with the worm wheel segment 44,the teeth on these gears being shown as simple threads for conveniencein and economy of manufacture.

As will be apparent, by rotating the worm 46, the worm wheel segment 44is caused to pivot about the axis of the pin 42 to correspondingly pivotthe upper staff member 12 relative to the lower staff member 14, andthus correspondingly change the angle of tilt of the canopy 18. Sinceworm gearing is irreversible, the canopy 18- will remain in any positionto which it is tilted, or in an untilted position, without any auxiliarylocking means, which is an important feature of the: invention. Further,by incorporating this worm gearing directly in the tilting joint 24 inthe manner disclosed, a very simple, compact and inexpensive structureresults, which is another important feature.

The worm 46 is actuated by a crank 52 which is provided with a handle 54at its outer end and which is pivotally connected to the worm at itsinner end. More particularly, the worm 46 is provided with a bifurcatedaxial extension 56 into which the inner end of the crank 52 is insertedand to which it is connected by a pivot pin 58.

As will be apparent from FIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawing, the crank 52 ispivotable about the axis of the pin 58 between an extended, operativeposition, shown in FIG. 3, and a retracted,- inoperative position, shownin FIG. 4. The crank 52 is retained in each of these positions in areleasable manner by a detent means comprising a detent pin 60 carriedby the worm 46 and biased axially thereof by a compression spring 62.The detent pin 60 is engageable with a surface 64 of the crank 52 toreleasably retain the crank in its extended position, and is engageablewith a surface 66 of the crank to releasably retain it in its retractedposition. The crank 52 itself holds the detent pin 60 in place againstthe action of the spring 62.

The fitting 36 of the lower staff member 14 is provided therein with acavity or recess 68 which completely houses the crank 52 when the latteris in its retracted position, inward pivotal movement of the crankbeyond its retracted position being prevented 'by an integral stop 70 onthe lower fitting 36 within the recess 68. The external surface 72 ofthe crank 52 is substantially flush with the external surface of thelower fitting 36 when the crank is retracted, the external surface 72 ofthe crank preferably being of arcuate cross section corresponding to thearcuate cross section of the fitting 36 itself.

It will be apparent that, with the foregoing construction, the slidingcollar 22 of the canopy frame 20 may slide freely past the tilting joint24, and the crank 52 incorporated therein, when the staff members 12 and14 are aligned and when the crank is in its retracted po-v sition. Thus,the present invention provides no obstruction whatsoever to slidingmovement of the collar 22 in collapsing or extending the canopy frame20, which is an important feature of the invention.

As will be apparent from FIG. 4 of the drawing, the axial length of therecess 68 exceeds the axial length of the crank 52, when it is in itsretracted position, sulficiently to provide a gap 74 for insertion of afinger under a projecting lip 76 on the crank adjacent the handle 54.Thus, the crank 52 may readily be withdrawn from the recess 68 andpivoted outwardly into its extended, operative position. Of course, thecrank 52 may be retracted simply by pivoting it about the axis of thepin 53 in opposition to the action of the detent pin 60, and thenpressing it into the recess with a thumb or finger.

Although an exemplary embodiment of the invention has been disclosedherein for purposes of illustration, it will be understood that variouschanges, modifications and substitutions may be incorporated in suchembodiment without departing from the spirit of the invention as definedby the claims which follow.

I claim:

, 1. An articulate stafi having substantially constant lateraldimensions longitudinally thereof and including:

(a) two staff members having adjacent ends and having lateral dimensionswhich are substantially the same and which are substantially constantlongitudinally thereof;

(b) pivot means entirely within the lateral confines of said staffmembers pivotally interconnecting said adjacent ends of said stafimembers for relative pivotal movement between aligned and misalignedpositions about a pivot axis provided by said pivot means;

(6) a driven gear segment carried by one of said staff members entirelywithin the lateral confines thereof and having its axis on said pivotaxis;

(:1) a driving gear carried by the other of said staff members entirelywithin the lateral confines thereof and meshed with said driven gearsegment, rotation of said driving gear causing said driven gear segmentto pivot said staff members between their aligned and misalignedpositions;

(e) a crank for rotating said driving gear pivotally connected directlyto said driving gear and pivotable relative thereto between extended andretracted positrons;

(1) said other staff member being provided with a recess of a size tocompletely receive said crank therein when it is in its retractedposition; and

(g) whereby said staff has substantially constant lateral dimensionslongitudinally thereof when said staff members are in their alignedpositions and when said crank is in its retracted position within saidrecess.

2. An articulate staff having a substantially constant diameter andincluding:

(a) two staff members having adjacent ends and having diameters whichare substantially the same and which are substantially constant;

(b) pivot means entirely within the lateral confines of said staffmembers pivotallyinterconnecting said adjacent ends of said staffmembers for relative pivotal movement between aligned and misalignedpositions about a pivot axis provided by said pivot means;

(0) a worm wheel segment carried by one of said staff members entirelywithin the lateral confines thereof and having its axis on said pivotaxis;

(d) a worm carried by the other of said staff members entirely withinthe lateral confines thereof and meshed with said worm wheel segment,rotation of said worm causing said Worm wheel segment to pivot saidstaff members between their aligned and misaligned positions; i

(e) a crank for rotating said worm pivotally connected directly to saidworm and pivotable relative thereto between extended and retractedpositions;

(1) said other staff member being provided with a recess of a size tocompletely receive said crank therein when it is in its retractedposition; and

(g) whereby said staff has a substantially constant diameter when saidstaff members are in their aligned positions and when said crank is inits retracted position within said recess.

3. An articulate staff having a substantially constant diameter andincluding:

(a) two staff members having adjacent ends and having diameters whichare substantially the same and which are substantially constant;

(1)) pivot means entirely within the lateral confines of said stallmembers pivotally interconnecting said adjacent ends of said staffmembers for relative pivotal movement between aligned and misalignedpositions about a pivot axis provided by said pivot means;

(0) a worm wheel segment carried by one of said stall members entirelywithin the lateral confines thereof and having its axis on said pivotaxis;

(d) a worm carried by the other of said stafit members entirely withinthe lateral confines thereof and meshed with said worm wheel segment,rotation of said worm causing said Worm wheel segment to pivot saidstafi members between their aligned and misaligned positions;

(e) said worm wheel segment and said worm having meshed teeth in theform of threads;

(f) a crank for rotating said worm pivotally connected directly to saidWorm and pivotable relative thereto between extended and retractedpositions;

(g) said other staff member being provided with a recess of a size tocompletely receive said crank therein when it is in its retractedposition; and

(h) whereby said stafi has a substantially constant diameter when saidstaff members are in their aligned positions and when said crank is inits retracted position within said recess.-

4. In a tiltable umbrella, the combination of:

(a) an articulate stafi as set forth in claim 2 wherein said one stallmember is an upper staff member and wherein said other staff member is alower staff member;

(b) a collapsible canopy frame connected to said upper staflf member;

(c) said canopy frame including a collar encircling said staff andhaving an inside diameter substantially equal to, but slightly largerthan, the diameter of said staff; and

i (d) whereby said collar is slidable from either of said stall membersonto the other when said staff members are in their aligned positionsand when said crank is in its retracted position within said recess.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,278,534 Dickason 2 Apr. 7, 1932 2,346,615 Santon Apr; 11, 19442,427,386 Gland-Mantle Sept. 16, 1947 2,595,697 Pereira May 6, 19522,721,569 Militano Oct. 25, 1955 1 FOREIGN PATENTS 119,883 AustraliaApr. 26, 1945

